Carbureter.



No. 780,673. PATENTE'D JAN. 24, 1905.

'J. F. LAWRENCE.

GARBURETER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1903.

SHEETS-S r PATENTED JAN. 24; 190 5. J. F. LAWRENCE.

I I l 5 v 6 a 6 f c 6 JNO. 780,673. r PA'TENTI'ID JAN. 24, 1905.

, J. F. LAWRENCE.

GARBURETBR.

APPLICATION FILED 001130, 1903.

4 SHEBTS-SHBET 3.

MZWJJJ No. 780,673. PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905.

' J. F. LAWRENCE GARBURETER.

APPLIOAT IONII LED OUT. 30, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

'Narsoms.

U ITED STATES Patented January 24, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAY F. LAWRENCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL.

- LIGHT HEAT AND POWER COMPANY.

CARBURETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,673, dated January24, 1905.

I Application filed October 30, 1903. Serial No. 179,18;-

T on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY F. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Carbu reters; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being bad to the accompanyoperation thereof. In otherinstances the devices have been faulty owing to imperfect carburizationand the constant variation in the richness ofthe mixture. been bulky andexpensive in construction.

The object of this invention is toprovide a carbureter operatingautomatically to control the supply and regulate the richness of the-mixture and adapted either for use for illustruction in which all theWorking parts are readily accessible and in which the moving parts arereduced to a minimum.

The invention embraces many novel features; and it consists in thematters hereinafter described, and more fully pointed out and defined inthe appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a device embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinalsection there- Fig. 3 is a section takenon line 8 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. A is an enlarged fragmentary detail ofportions of the generator-tank, showing the same in central verticalsection. Fig. 5 1s a fragmentary perspective v1ew of the Many have alsospiral incline in the generator-tank. Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontalsection taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of oneof the absorbent strips. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of theangle-bar flights which extend radially of the spiral incline.

In said drawings said invention is shown embodied in a generating andmixing tank A, a pumping-tank B, and a storage-tank C for the compressedair, which is delivered continuously at, uniform pressure into thegenerator A. The tanks comprising said carbureter, as shown, aresupported upon a table or platform comprising a base D and an upperframe 0?, which engages around said tanks and is connected with saidplatform by means of bolts (2 at each corner of the platform and frameprovided with nuts 0Z which engage above and below the frame (Z and holdthe same rigidly with" respect to the platform, as shown in Fig. 1. Saidpumping-tank B comprises, as shown, a cylindric shell 6, providedperipherally with a plurality of apertures near the upper and lower endand having a head '6, se-

cured at the upper end-thereof. Within said casing is provided a doublebellows compris ing the upper bellows b and the lower bellows 6 eachsimilar to an ordinary organbellows. As shown, the bottom 6* of the.lower bellows is connected with the upper board 6 of the upper bellowsby means of rods or bolts bf, which are of such a length that when oneof said bellows is fully extended the other of said bellows is in itscollapsedor compressed condition. The bottom of the upper bellows andthe top of the lower bellows are each rigidly secured in the casing bymeans affording a tight'joint and providing a space or chamber betweenthe same and into which the delivery-valves b b of said bellows open,while the inletvalves thereof, 6 6 are provided in the outer ends ofsaid bellows, as shown in Fig. 2.

Means are provided for operating said bellows simultaneously, which inthe present instance for convenience is indicated as a reciprocatingwater-motor B of familiar type, such as frequently is employed foroperatingforgan-bellows, and ofwhich theinlet-pipeiBi.

partly open said valve.

is provided with a controlling-valve b, whereby the supply of water orother actuating fluid for the motor can be regulated or controlledeither automatically or by an operator. The delivery-pipe from saidmotor is indicated by I), Figs. 1 and 3. Said motor, as shown, isprovided with a piston rod 1), adapted to be reciprocated thereby andwhich extends upwardly and centrally through each of said bellows and isrigidly secured to the bottom of the under bellows and to the top of theupper, so that with each reciprocation of said piston-rod one of saidbellows is inflated and the other delivers the contents thereof into thechamber between said bellows. Leading from said central chamber in thepumping-tank B is a delivery-pipe 0, opening upwardly through the bottomof the pressuretank 0, so that the air compressed in the bellows isforced therethrough into said pressure-tank, which, as'shown, comprisesa gasometer consisting of a lower casing or receptacle having an outerand inner wall 0 0 providing a narrow annular water-chamber between thesame and into which fits the bell C of the usual form, comprising ashell 0 having a diameter suitable to permit the same to enter saidannular chamber and having a closed head, (indicated by 0".) As shown, aretaining-strap of metal having a central aperture above said bell, isbent to afford a stop for the upward movement of the bell O of saidgasometer and is engaged at its ends in the frame (Z by means of nutshaving threaded engagement on said ends, which extend below said table.A rod 0 secured on the upper end of said bell, passes through thecentral aperture in the strap and at its upper end has pivotalengagement with a lever a", pivoted on the head of the pumping-tank D.The opposite end of said lever is pivotally engaged with theconnecting-rod 0 which engages the operating-lever c of the inlet-valveI) of the motor, so that as the pressure-tank fills and the bell thereofrises toward the retainingstrap C the upward movement thereof slowlycloses the valve 6, so that when said tank is completely filled themotive fluid is entirely out off from the motor and the pump ceasesuntil the bell descends sufiiciently to open or The pressure in thegasometer may be increased by the use of weights C supported on the bellof the gasometer. From the bottom of said pressuretank a pipe 0,provided with a hand-valve 0 extends outwardly and upwardly to deliverthe air into the top of the generator. Said generator-tank A, as shown,com prises a shell or casing (0, provided with a closed upper head a anda bottom (0 provided with a central depression or cup (4 Extendingaxially of said casing is the air-pipe A, which at its top communicateswith the air-inlet pipe 0 and in the upper end of which in the top ofsaid casing is provided a laterally-enlarged chamber formed by a casting(1,", threaded on said pipe. The lower end of said pipe A extends closeto the bottom a and above the cup (0 Also extending downwardly throughthe top of said head a and through the laterally-extended chamber in thetop of said pipe A is the hydrocarbon-supply pipe (0", which terminatesa short distance below said chamber and is provided within the same witha valve (6 provided with a lever (17, which extends into axial alincmentwith said pipe A and is connected at its ends with a rod a", whichextends longitudinally in said pipe to the bottom of said generator andinto the cup (0 at the mouth of which said pipe A terminates. Said rod(L8 at its lower end engages a stirrup a", the ends of which extendupwardly on each side of said pipe and are rigidly secured to an annularfloat A, through which said pipe A passes. Accumulation of hydrocarbonor other fluid in the bottom of the generator acts to elevate said floatand close the valve (4", while the consumption or vaporization of saidhydrocarbon causes said float to descend, again opening said valveandcausing an inflow of the hydrocarbon fluid. Rigidl y secured on saidpipe A and afl'ording a tight joint therewith and with the sides of thetank is the spiral incline E, of metal or other suitable material, theupper end of which extends closely beneath the inlet end of thehydrocarbon-pipe a" and the lower end of which terminates above theupward limit of movement of the float A Extending radially of saidincline are flights a 6, having raised edges, and, as shown, constructedof angle-iron rigidly secured to said incline and between which andfilling the space between the upper and lower turns of the incline arethe blocks of felt or other absorbent material (1 and c, which, asshown, are of less length than the radius of said shell or generator andare arranged alternately with the opposite end in engagement with theouter surface of said tube A and with the shell a of the generator, asshown in Figs. 2 and 6, so that the hydrocarbon fluid when delivered atthe top of said incline flows dmvnwardly thereon, a portion beingretained by being absorbed by the felt strips between the flights, theraised rib on the lowermost of the same aflording a retaining: walltherefor, so that said spiral incline for its entire length affords asuccession of shallow evaporating-pans, each of which contains a stripof the absorbent material and the arrangement of which is such, asindicated in Fig. 6, to greatly increase the distance the hydrocarbonfluid must travel and be exposed shown, the pipe 0 is connected with thepipe F through an intermediate valve f, so that, if desired, in theevent of the mixture being too rich air may be admitted and mixedtherewith in the pipe through said valve f.

' The operation is as fol-lows: Supposing there be no pressure, thepressure-tank or gasometer (J-or, in other Words, the bellto be at itslowest position and no appreciable quantity of the hydrocarbon is in thebottom of the generatoror, 'in other words, the valve of the pipe abeing openit is obvious that the hydrocarbon will flow from said pipeupon said spiral incline and will flow down the same,

being in part absorbed by the feltstrips e e and portions thereof beingretained between the flights, as before described. As the hell 0 isdepressed'or, in other words, is unsupported by internal airpressurethevalve 6 is opened thereby, and the motive fluid being delivered to themotor B the bellows are operated at full speed, slowly raising the bellof the gasometer and forcing air therefrom through the pipe 0 (the valve0 being open) into the axial pipe A of the generator, from thehydrocarbon fluid be delivered through the pipe a too rapidly for theascending current of air to vaporize the same, it is obvious that theexcess will accumulate in the bottom of the generator, as shown in Fig.2. In consequence this will raise the float A gradually closing orpartly closing the valve. The air still continues to flow into the pipeA and is delivered beneath the surface of the hydrocarbon in the bottomof the generator, which is agitated thereby, facilitating'its vaporizmg.is controlled by the movement of the gasometer-bell C, inasmuch as theconnection of the same with the lever 0 acts to open or close thethrottle-valve f as it rises or falls under the pressure of the airtherein.

Obviously any desired pressure may be obtained in the pressure-tankwithin the capacity of the motor and bellows by weighting the bell ofthe gasometer. Said weight C may be engaged around the rod 0 at the topof said hell or, if preferred, supported on the sides thereof. Theincrease in weight obviously necessitates an increased pressure to liftthe bell sufliciently to close the valve I) and at the same time forcesthe air through the pipe 0 and up the spiral incline at a much greaterThe supply of air and the air-pressure pressure and more rapid rate,thereby varying the richness of the mixture. The rate of flow of the airfrom said pressure-tank to the generator can also readily be varied bymeans of the valve 0 and should occasion ever arise may be furthervaried by means of the valve f, connecting the pipe 0 and thedischargepipe F. It is thus obvious that my invention is notonly'provided with means for automatically regulating the supply andmixture of the hydrocarbon mixture, but as well aflfords means formanually varying the richness and supply of said vapor.

As a further improvement I have provided water gages 0 in the outershell 0' of the pressure:tank to indicate the amount of water therein toafford a seal and also a similar Water-gage a at the bottom of thegenerator to indicate the amount of hydrocarbon in the bottom thereof,thereby enabling the supply of the same to be regulated in part, ifpreferred, by means of the valve (0 in the supply-pipe as, and I havealso provided a cock or faucet 64 at the bottom of said generator,through which any excess of hydro carbon in the bottom may be withdrawntherefrom, if preferred.

- WhileI have described my invention as comprising the pumping-tank, thepressure-tank, and the generator and mixer, it is obvious that, ifpreferred, air may be pumped directly into the gasometer through thepipe A and the pressure-tank O omitted and other suitable means employedfor automatically controlling the action of'the pumping means and, ifpreferred, the felt strips may be differently arranged than ashereinshown and described or sufficiently thin to permit a part of the currentof air to pass over the same, and many other details of construction maybe varied without departing from the principles of this invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. A carbureter comprising a generating andmixing tank, an air inlet-pipe the-rein extending to near the bottomthereof, a hydrocarbon-inlet pipe extending throughthe top of thegenerator, a valve therein, an inclined evaporating-surface, a float inthe bottom of said tank, a rod connecting the same with said valve, avapor-discharge pipe connected in the top of said tank, and meansdelivering a blast of air through said air-pipe to the bottom of thegenerator and mixing-tank whereby an air-current flows upwardly alongthe inclined evaporating-surface against the downwardly-flowing currentof hydrocarbon.

2. In a carbureter a generator-tank comprising a closed shell, adischarge-pipe connecting in the top thereof. an air-inlet pipeextending axially of the generator to near the bottom thereof, ahydrocarbon-inlet pipe extending through the top of said generatorof thetank and operatively connected between said float and valve, a helicalincline in said tank having tight connections with said shell and saidair-pipe, an absorbent material supported on said incline, meansadmitting a blast of air through said air-pipe in the bottom of the tanksaid float acting when hydrocarbon accumulates at the bottom of the tankto close the inlet-valve.

3. In a carbureter the combination with a generating and mixing tank, ofan air-pipe opening through the top thereof and extending axially tonear the bottom of the same, a hydrocarbon inlet pipe, a valve therein,a float-valve at the bottom of the tank, a rod extending axially of saidair-pipe and operatively connecting the float with said valve wherebythe delivery of hydrocarbon through said pipe is regulated by the amountof hydrocarbon in the bottom of said tank.

4. In a carbureter the combination with a generating and mixing tank, ofa dischargepipe in the top thereof, an air-inlet pipe also openingthrough the top and extending axially therein, a laterally-extendedchamber in said air-pipe at its upper end, ahydrocarbon-supply pipeextending through the said chamber, a valve in said pipe within thechamber, a float-valve at the bottom of the tank, a rod connectingtherewith, and operatively connected with said valve and operating saidvalve by the movement of said float and a helical ineline extending fromnear the lower end of the inlet-pipe to near the bottom of the tank andaflording a tight joint with the sides of the tank and said air-pipe andradial flights on said incline providing a plurality of shallowevaporating-pans.

5. In a carbureter a tank, a helical incline fitted therein andaflording a tight joint therewith, an air-pipe extending axially throughsaid incline, absorbent material arranged radially on said incline andalternately extending from the center and from the circumference, radialflights on said incline affording a plurality of shallowevaporating-pans, means admitting a regulable supply of hydrocarbon atthe top of the incline, and automaticallyoperating means admitting airinto the bottom of said tank whereby downflowing hydrocarbon on saidincline and the upflowing air are mixed to a desired richness.

6. In a carbureter, the combination with the generating and mixing tank,of an air-inlet pipe extending inwardly to near the bottom thereof andhaving a laterally-directed chamber opening therein in the top of saidtank, an inlet-pipe for hydrocarbon extending through the top of thetank and said chamber, a plurality of shallowevaporating-pans arrangedto afford a helical incline to receive the hydrocarbon, a float in thebottom of the tank and a rod carried on said float and extendingupwardly in said air-pipe and operatively 0011- nected with said valveand acting to regulate the delivery of hydrocarbon therethrough by thequantity of the hydrocarbon in the bottom of the tank.

7. In a carbureter the combination with a closed tank, of an air-inletpipe extending axially thereof and to near the bottom, a cup in thebottom of said tank below the end of said air-inlet pipe, a floatsurrounding the end of said pipe and provided with a downwardlyextendingstirrup extending into the cup, a rod connected on the stirrup andextending upwardly through said pipe, a hydrocarboninlet pipe in the topof said tank, a valve connected therein, a lever for operating the sameextending into said air-inlet pipe and connected with said rod wherebyupward movement of the float acts to close said valve and downwardmovement acts to open the same.

8. A carbureter comprising a closed cylindric tank, a helical inclinetherein having tight connection with the walls of the tank, an airpipeextending axially therethrough and affording tight joints therewith andadapted to conduct air to the bottom of the tank, flights having araised edge and extending radially of said incline and acting to affordshallow receptacles in the face of the incline to receive and retaindownwardly-flowing hydrocarbon and means admitting air through saidair-inlet pipe to the bottom of the receptacle whereby a current of airis forced upwardly along the incline and over said receptacles.

9. In a carbureter the combination with a tank, of a helical inclinetherein afl'ording a tight joint with the sides and closed at thecenter, flights each having a raised edge arranged radially on theincline and affording between the same shallow evaporating-pans,automatically-regulablc means admitting hydrocarbon at the upper end ofsaid incline and means regulated by the pressure acting to admit air atthe bottom of the incline whereby a current of air is passedcontinuously over the evaporating-pans in said inclineand adischarge-pipe connecting in the top of the pan.

10. In a carbureter the combination with a tank, of a helical inclinetherein afl'ording a tight joint with the sides and closed at thecenter, flights each having a raised edge arranged radially on theincline and affording between the same shallow evaporating-pans,absorbent material in each pan, :uitomaticallyregulable means admittinghydrocarbon at the upper end of said incline and means regulated by thepressure acting to admit air at the bottom of the incline whereby acurrent of air is passed continuously over the evaporating-pans in saidincline and a discharge-pipe connecting in the top of the pan.

11. In a carbureter the combination with a tank, of a helical inclinetherein affording a tight joint with the sides and closed at the center,flights each having a raised edge arranged radially on the incline andaffording between the same shallow evaporating-pans, strips of absorbentmaterial arranged alternately between alternate flights and extendingopposite from the center and from the periphery of said incline,automatically-regulable means admitting hydrocarbon at the upper end ofsaid incline and means regulated by the pressure acting to admit air atthe bottom of the incline whereby a current of air is passedcontinuously over the evaporatingpans in said incline and adischarge-pipe connecting in the top of the pan.

12. In a carbureter the combination with a tank having acentrally-disposed cup in the bottom thereof, a pipe in axial alinementwith said cup, a float in thebottom of said tank, a rod connectedtherewith and extending upwardly in said pipe, a hydrocarbon-inlet pipe,a valve therein connected with said rod, a helical incline, radial ribsthereon and strips of absorbent material arranged alternatelyon saidincline.

13. In a carbureter the combination with a tank of a central air-pipeextending into close relation with the bottom thereof, a helical inclinerigidly engaged between said pipe and the walls of the tank,upwardly-directed radial ribs on said incline, strips of absorbentmaterial arranged alternately on the inner and outer peripheries of sa dmclme, a hydrocarbon-inlet pipe opening above the incline, a valvetherein, a rod in said air-pipe and con nected with said valve and afloat in the bottom of said tank and engaged on said rod and. adapted tooperate said valve.

14. In a carbureter the combination with a tank, of a helical inclinerigidly engaged therein, an air-pipe extending axially through saidincline, a plurality of upwardly-directed radial ribs on the incline,radial strips of absorbent material arrangedv alternately on the innerand outer margins of the incline, a casing in the upper portion of saidair-pipe, a hydrocarboninlet pipe extending therethrough, a valve insaid inletpipe, a float in the bottom of said tank, means engaged onsaid float acting to. operate said valve and a pressure-tank adapted todeliver air through the air-pipe into the tank.

15. In a carbureter the combination with a generator and mixing-tank ofa hydrocarboninlet pipe opening thereinto, a valve in said JAY F.LAWRENCE.

Witnesses:

C. W. I-IILLs, W. W, WITHENBURY.

